Canada responds to U.S. tariffs with its own 'countermeasures'

Canada responds to U.S. tariffs with its own 'countermeasures'Freeland is making the announcement alongside Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following word from the White House that the U.S. will slap tariffs on Canadian, Mexican and European Union steel and aluminium as of midnight tonight.

OTTAWA — Chrystia Freeland told reporters Wednesday that the prime minister and U.S. president have a " truly warm , personal relationship," despite reports Donald Trump invoked the War of 1812 during a recent call .

Mr. Trudeau had sought to play down personal clashes with Mr. Trump as he wrapped up the summit, calling the meeting “very successful” and saying he was “inspired by the discussion.” That was followed by 48 hours of tense and often confrontational closed-door discussions between Mr. Trump

OTTAWA — Chrystia Freeland told reporters Wednesday that the prime minister and U.S. president have a "truly warm, personal relationship," despite reports Donald Trump invoked the War of 1812 during a recent call.

According to CNN, the two world leaders were discussing trade when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asked for an explanation of how tariffs are considered a national security issue. Trump reportedly responded by saying, "Didn't you guys burn down the White House?" during the May 25 call.

Trudeau: I said no to NAFTA sunset clause

Trudeau: I said no to NAFTA sunset clauseTrudeau told the anecdote today during a media briefing where he and Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland were outlining the Canadian response to punishing U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Donald Trump called PM ‘schoolmistressy’, but May says relationship is ‘very good’. We have a great relationship. Angela [Merkel], and Emmanuel [Macron] and Justin [ Trudeau ] May’s officials have been arguing that despite the pre-summit reports of Trump struggling with her

Canada was not a country in 1812. It was a British colony. It's well documented that British troops torched the White House over 200 years ago.

The Trump administration announced its decision to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian, Mexican and European Union aluminum and steel imports days later.

The foreign affairs minister suggested the tense phone call doesn't reflect the nature of Trudeau and Trump's relationship. In French, she said the two are real friends.

"I have seen myself and many American officials and cabinet secretaries have confirmed to me that the prime minister and the president have a truly warm, personal relationship — and that's a good thing," Freeland said.

The Prime Minsiter's Office declined to comment on "details of their private conversations."

Chrystia Freeland On Canada Being A Threat To The U.S.: 'Seriously?'

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland had a blunt response to the notion that Canada could be considered a national security threat to the United States. "Seriously?"Freeland was speaking to CNN's Dana Bash on the network's "State of the Union" Sunday about the White House's recent decision to slap Canada, as well as Mexico and the European Union, with a 25 per cent tariff on steel and a 10 per cent tariff on aluminum.

Then [Canadian Prime Minister] Justin [ Trudeau ] acts hurt when called out!" Trump added. Canada's foreign minister, Chrystia Freeland , said her country "does not conduct its Trudeau had said Saturday that Canadians "are polite, we're reasonable, but also we will not be pushed around."

Freeland reiterated that Canada would retaliate to U.S. tariffs in a measured and reciprocal way, adding the country would always be willing to talk. Trump in Singapore on Monday escalated his war of words with Canada and the European Union in a pair of tweets. Trump said: “Fair Trade is now to be called

Trump administration's actions called 'illegal'

Last week, Canada proposed retaliatory tariffs effective July 1 on American imports, adding a 25 per cent tariff on aluminum and steel imports from the states.

A second set is aimed at adding a 10 per cent tariff on select American-made products including orange juice, peanut butter, lawn mowers and chocolate. The shortlist is designed to add political pressure on U.S. swing state districts with economies dependent on the export of goods to Canada.

Trump's surprise tariffs forced Canadian officials to adopt more blunt language while NAFTA talks between the U.S., Canada and Mexico continue.

Both Trudeau and Freeland have appeared on major American television networks in the past week to criticize the U.S. tariffs as "unacceptable" and "illegal."

With the G7 Summit set to begin Friday in Charlevoix, Que., Freeland also responded to reports that the U.S. is planning a new round of economic penalties against Canada.

Trump invokes War of 1812 in testy call with Trudeau over tariffs

President Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a testy phone call on May 25 over new tariffs imposed by the Trump administration targeting steel and aluminum imports coming from Canada, including one moment during the conversation in which Trump made an erroneous historical reference, sources familiar with the discussion told CNN. According to the sources, Trudeau pressed Trump on how he could justify the tariffs as a "national security" issue. In response, Trump quipped to Trudeau, "Didn't you guys burn down the White House?" referring to the War of 1812.

A spokesperson for Trudeau responded to Trump 's tweets by saying the government remained focused on "everything we accomplished here at the summit." Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland , Canada's chief political negotiator on this file Despite Trump 's warning that Canada

She dismissed the speculation, saying she was in Washington earlier this week and hasn't received any formal or informal notice that the Americans are planning additional tariffs.

"We have heard nothing," she said. "Canada believes in hoping for the best and preparing for the worst. And we are absolutely prepared for really everything."

This article originally appeared on AMP: HuffPost Canada at https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2018/06/06/donald-trump-justin-trudeau-call-war-of-1812_a_23452682/

After delivering veiled takedown of U.S. protectionism, Freeland says NAFTA talks to continue through summer .
Even with tensions simmering between the U.S. and Canada, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said today the two countries will continue to negotiate NAFTA through the summer. Freeland capped off a brief trip to Washington with a meeting with United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this morning. She said the two agreed to continue NAFTA negotiations with Mexico this summer, despite a looming election in that country, but didn't set any dates.The morning meeting came after Freeland ​delivered a major foreign policy speech after receiving Foreign Policy magazine's Diplomat of the Year award.

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OTTAWA — Chrystia Freeland told reporters Wednesday that the prime minister and U.S. president have a " truly warm , personal relationship," despite reports Donald Trump invoked the War of 1812 during a recent call .

Mr. Trudeau had sought to play down personal clashes with Mr. Trump as he wrapped up the summit, calling the meeting “very successful” and saying he was “inspired by the discussion.” That was followed by 48 hours of tense and often confrontational closed-door discussions between Mr. Trump

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